Beethoven at the Piano 9 Well-known Pieces

BeethovenÕs 32 piano sonatas are the ÒNew TestamentÓ of music, according to Hans von BŸlow. Our selection here does not take things quite so solemnly, because we have also taken the opportunity to show the more ÒworldlyÓ side of the composer, with dances, bagatelles, the unusual character piece ÒLustig und traurigÓ (ÒHappy and sadÓ), and of course the indestructible ÒFŸr EliseÓ. As usual in our series ÒAt the pianoÓ, all the pieces are arranged progressively from easy to medium level of difficulty. And you do not have to be in awe of BeethovenÕs piano sonatas either: the highly Classical sonata in G major (essentially a sonatina) offers an ideal introduction to the many-facetted world of BeethovenÕs sonatas. In contrast to this, we also show Beethoven the Òpoet at the pianoÓ, with the first movement of his ÒMoonlightÓ Sonata in c-sharp minor, along with the funeral march from the Sonata in A-flat major Ð visionary creations that already point far ahead into the world of Romanticism.